Although December was a short month, students were able to accomplish quite a bit. In RTI, students started working on informative writing and reading more informational text. A fun topic that the students got to read was about firefighters. Not only did the students read, write, and participate in discussions, they came up with some wonderful questions to ask firefighters. They were so thrilled to get a visit from our local firefighters and see the fire truck; it was a great way to connect their in-class reading to the real world. In math, we are learning how to use various strategies to help strengthen our mental math skills. We are in Module 4 of Eureka Math. With each topic that we start within the module, I am sending home a parent newsletter so that you can learn more about the strategies to help clarify any questions you might. If you have any further questions about the math, please do not hesitate to contact me. In social studies, we completed our producers and consumers unit by participating in Marketplace. Students got a chance to review the monetary value of coins and dollars as well as how money is used on any given day. We talked about needs and wants, savings and spending, and goods and services. Marketplace was a great success with students applying all the knowledge they learned in the weeks prior to the selling and buying of goods. On the first day back from winter break, Noddin will particpate in a school-wide initiative called Smart Start. Second graders will be rotating between each classroom in one-hour blocks, tying in various activities such as literacy, art, tech, and math. The goal is to provide students with open-ended lessons to be creative and engage. Lastly, as this year comes to a close, I want to extend my heartfelt thank you for your continuous support. Happy Holidays and wishing you all a joyous new year.